It's heartbreaking to learn of the extent of child sex crimes at Sprit Lake Indian Reservation in North Dakota and the woefully inadequate response to it from authorities.

Poverty, discrimination and historic maltreatment by governmental figures in no way excuses child sex crimes and cover ups. While we sympathize with Native Americans who have been neglected and oppressed in many ways, we sympathize even more with their children, especially those at Spirit Lake, whose innocence has been shattered while police, prosecutors and federal officials have moved slowly and ineffectively to stop these heinous crimes.

And we call on Native American leaders to do more to address this devastating abuse.